Tamil Nadu parties launch Eezham Tamils Protection Movement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 2009, 06:13 GMT]Concerned by New Delhi's inaction and driven by the need to bring about change in the prevailing tragic scenario in Vanni, five leaders of prominent Tamil Nadu parties, Vaiko, Dr. S. Ramadoss, Nedumaran, Thirumavalavan and D. Pandian, jointly launched the Eezham Tamils Protection Movement (ETPM) following a consultative meeting in Chennai Wednesday. Top leaders of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Communist Party of India, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Tamil Nationalist Movement held closeted discussions on how to save the Eelam Tamils.

Tamil Nationalist Movement leader Nedumaran has been chosen as the convenor of this front. As the first step, the ETPM has announced a silent black-flag protest near the Gandhi Statue on the Marina beach in Chennai on Friday, Jan 30, Gandhi's death anniversary.

According to news-reports, the ETPM will meet again on Jan 31 in order to include other political, religious, social organizations, trade unions, NGOs, Tamil organizations, women's and student's movements under the common umbrella. The meeting on Saturday will also chalk out the strategy to save Tamils and stop genocide on the island.

Those who took part in Wednesday's meeting include PMK founder-leader Dr.S.Ramadoss and party president G.K.Mani; CPI's veteran leader Nallakannu, state secretary D. Pandian and joint-secretary C.Mahendran; MDMK's general secretary Vaiko, deputy general secretary Mallai Satya and member of parliament K.S.Radhakrishnan; VCK's President Thirumavalavan, Joint General Secretary Chozha Nambiar, Headquarters Secretary Vanniarasu and Spokesperson Aarvalan; and Tamil Nationalist Movement's President Nedumaran.